Dear Christian friends:

During these past months we have read in the newspapers how Czechoslovakian leaders have been giving more and more freedom to the people in that country; freedom of the press and speech; freedom of religion and assembly. But we saw last week that Russia was displeased about that and sent many soldiers to force the Czechs to give up that freedom.

Freedom is a wonderful thing. Those under force and slavery understand this. Here in our text Jesus talks about freedom and slavery. But He is talking about a far worse and more terrible slavery than that under Russia or Communism and about a freedom which is much better and much more wonderful than political freedom.

He talks about the wonderful freedom in His Kingdom. If the Czechs have Jesus' freedom they could be very happy even under Russia and would finally also become free of Russia. In countries where Jesus' Church is strong you will also find political freedom. But where the Christian Church is weak, you find Communism and other slave states. So what Jesus says here is very important for us, both for our soul and for our daily life.

So today I want to preach to you about the idea:


Freedom from the slavery of sin. In the text Jesus tells the Jews that if they believe in Him and follow Him they will be free. But they are displeased by that and answer, "We are Abraham's children and have never been anybodies slaves. How can you say, "You'll be free?" They thought that because they were Jews and members of the Jewish Church that they were free and children of God.

So we too, may think that we are free and God's children because we are baptized and confirmed and members of the Lutheran or some other church. But that alone does not make us free. We may still be slaves.

When the Jews said they were never slaves Jesus proved to them that they were slaves: He said to them, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." (John 8:34 NIV) They couldn't answer that. Jesus said to them, "I know that you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word." (John 8:37) Jesus meant to tell them, "Although you are Jews and members of the Church sin leads you and rules over you. Your are not free. You are not really God's children or Abraham's children."

So Jesus wants to say to all of us: "Everyone who lives in sin is a slave of sin. Although you are Lutherans or Americans if sin rules over you and forces you to do evil, you are a slave of sin.

This is a terrible slavery, worse than living under Communism. The man who is ruled by greed He can't rest or stop worrying about money. He gets some and he wants more and more. No matter how much he has, he is never satisfied and never gives to the poor or needy or church.

The man or woman who is ruled by sexual desires is never satisfied with one woman or man. His desires force him to do many shameful and wrong things.

The man who is a slave to lies it forces him to tell another and another and he can't stop lying. When you are a slave of sin you do not rule over sin, but it rules over you.

From this terrible slavery under sin Jesus makes us free. He says in our text, "A slave doesn't stay in the home forever. A son stays forever. If, then, the Son frees you, you will really be free."

We are all slaves of sin and cannot stay in God's home, His kingdom ourselves. We are helpless to free ourselves. But God's Son is not helpless. Jesus is not a slave of sin like man. He is the perfect, almighty Son of God. If He makes us free then we are really free. And He has made us free. He obeyed God's law for us and He suffered the punishment of our sins upon the cross. Because of Jesus, God offers us forgiveness of sins and accepts us back into His home as His dear children.

If we believe that we receive God's Holy Spirit and we become free from the rule and power of sin. We gladly and cheerfully serve God even if others bother us and criticise us. We have the courage to say, "No," to those who tempt us also to our own sinful desires. If we happen to fall into sin, we are sorry and trust in God's promise of forgiveness in Jesus. In Jesus, God's Son we are really free. The hymn, The Son Has Made Me Free. Yes, free, free free.

The wonderful freedom we have in Christ's Kingdom can be lost if we don't live in Jesus' Words. Jesus warned the Jews and also us about that in verses 31&32 of our text. We read He said to those Jews who believed in Him, "If you live in My Word you are really My disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

It is not enough to hear and know God's Word in our head or mind His Word's and promises must be strong in our heart, so that we really love God and trust His promise to forgive our sins and to save us from death and hell. We need experience in trusting God's promises.

Many people begin to believe in Jesus, but when others bother them or criticise them and mock them they become afraid and stop believing. Many young deaf are like that. God's Word is not working in their heart.

Others in time of danger see no way of escape. They panic and lose all hope. In time of sickness and death (Tell how Abraham trusted God's promise). So if we want to be free and not afraid God's Word must be working in us.

Amen.